Injuries associated with... UNPOWERED SCOOTERS,
CHIRPP database as of May 2001

All ages, June 2001 (305 records)

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LIMITATIONS

This report is based on information from the database of the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP). It is important to note that the injuries described do not represent all injuries in Canada, but only those seen at the emergency departments of the 15 hospitals in the CHIRPP network. Since the bulk of CHIRPP data comes from the pediatric hospitals, which are in major cities, injuries suffered by the following people are under-represented in the CHIRPP database: older teenagers and adults, who are seen at general hospitals; native people; and people who live in rural areas. Fatal injuries are also under-represented in the CHIRPP database because the emergency department data do not capture people who died before they could be taken to hospital or those who died after being admitted.

SUMMARY (305 records)

Injuries associated with scooters were most common among 8 to 13 year old children (76.4%). Nearly two-thirds (65.9%) of the injured were male. Close to half (47.2%) of all injuries took place between 4:00 pm and 7:59 pm. Injuries occurred most frequently in non-roadway locations (67.2%), with more than one third (34.4%) occurring near a home. Loss of control of the scooter accounted for more than half of all injuries (59.0%). Using the first of up to three injuries recorded for each case, nearly one-third were fractures to the upper extremities (30.2%), with fractures of the forearm accounting for 15.4% of all injuries. In the emergency room, almost half of those injured (47.2%) were treated with medical follow-up required, and 4.6% were admitted to hospital.

SPECIFICATIONS OF THE SEARCH

In May 2001, a search of the CHIRPP database for all ages (1,108,891 records) was conducted. Records were selected if any of the six factor code fields contained the code for scooter (lightweight fold-up scooter, micro scooter, razor scooter or trottinette; code 2014). This new code (2014) was added to the CHIRPP factor code list on September 7, 2000. Records were scanned and any cases in which the scooter was incidental in the injury event (e.g. tripped over it in the garage) or where the scooter was powered, were excluded. Injuries occurring during fold-up or opening of the scooter were included. This search resulted in 305 records.

AGE AND SEX DISTRIBUTION OF CASES

AGE (years)	# (%) OF CASES	CASES / 100,000 *	% MALE	% MALE CHIRPP **
1 - 4	9 (3.0)	2.8	77.8	56.7
5 - 7	32 (10.5)	23.0	75.0	59.3
8 - 10	109 (35.7)	71.2	58.7	57.4
11 - 13	124 (40.7)	72.9	65.3	61.0
14 - 16	29 (9.5)	22.5	82.8	63.5
17+	2 (0.7)	1.0	50.0	61.8
Total	305 (100.0)	28.4	65.9	59.8

* The number of injuries per 100,000 CHIRPP injuries of all types within the age group indicated. The total number of injuries per 100,000 reflects injuries of all types for ages one year and older. Because CHIRRP collects information from ten children's hospitals and only five of the general hospitals, there is a high number of young children in the database. Using number per 100,000 within an age group (instead of overall percent by age group) adjusts for different age group distributions.

** Proportion of males in the CHIRPP database for that age group.

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OVERALL PATTERN OF OCCURRENCE

Day, month and time

Over one-third of the events occurred on the weekend (38.7%). The remaining cases were distributed evenly between Monday and Friday. Due to the addition of the new code for scooters and the lag time in data entry, it is difficult to assess month-by-month frequencies at this point.

TIME OF INJURY

TIME	# (%) OF CASES	# (%) OF MALES	# (%) OF FEMALES
Midnight to < 8:00 am	10 (3.3)	9 (4.5)	1 (1.0)
8:00 am to < Noon	22 (7.2)	18 (9.0)	4 (3.8)
Noon to < 4:00 pm	69 (22.6)	48 (23.9)	21 (20.2)
4:00 pm to < 8:00 pm	144 (47.2)	88 (43.8)	56 (53.8)
8:00 pm to < Midnight	35 (11.5)	22 (10.9)	13 (12.5)
Unknown	25 (8.2)	16 (8.0)	9 (8.7)
Total	305 (100.0)	201 (100.0)	104 (100.0)

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CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE INJURY

Location, breakdown and direct cause (mechanism factor)

Injuries associated with scooters took place most frequently at non-roadway locations (67.2%), with over one-third of all injuries occurring in the vicinity of a home (34.4%) . The majority of all patients were injured due to a loss of control of their scooter (59.0%). The most frequent direct cause of injury was a surface (79.0%)

WHERE THE INJURY OCCURRED

LOCATION	# (%) OF CASES
Non-roadway	205 (67.2)
In or in the vicinity of the patient's home or other home	105 (34.4)
in garden/yard	35
on driveway	16
on sidewalk	12
other indoor area at a home	12
other outdoor area at a home	8
unspecified area of a home	22
Away from home	100 (32.8)
sidewalk	52
public Park	20
school	14
other location	14
Roadway (public road or lane)	83 (27.2)
Unknown Location	17 (5.6)
Total	305 (100.0)

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HOW THE INJURY HAPPENED*

BREAKDOWN/CIRCUMSTANCES	# (%) OF ALL CASES	# (%) OF MALE CASES	# (%) OF FEMALE CASES
Loss of control of scooter	180 (59.0)	117 (58.2)	63 (60.6)
Loss of balance	7 (2.3)	3 (1.5)	4 (3.8)
Dismounting/mounting scooter	6 (2.0)	2 (1.0)	4 (3.8)
Turning/avoiding	4 (1.3)	3 (1.5)	1 (1.0)
Slipped off	2 (0.6)	2 (1.0)	0 (0.0)
Braking	2 (0.6)	0 (0.0)	2 (1.9)
Loss of control - not further specified	159 (52.1)	107 (53.2)	52 (50.0)
Problems with the riding surface	54 (17.7)	31 (15.4)	23 (22.1)
Contact with curb or paved surface irregularity	25 (8.2)	12 (6.0)	13 (12.5)
Contact with small object on surface	17 (5.6)	11 (5.5)	6 (5.8)
Non-paved surface	6 (2.0)	2 (1.0)	4 (3.8)
Contact with sewer grate/manhole/storm drain	4 (1.3)	4 (2.0)	0 (0.0)
Wet paved surface	2 (0.6)	2 (1.0)	0 (0.0)
Higher risk manoeuvres	41 (13.4)	34 (16.9)	7 (6.7)
Downhill/excessive speed	30 (9.8)	25 (12.4)	5 (4.8)
Stunts/jumps	11 (3.6)	9 (4.5)	2 (1.9)
Clothing or body part caught in scooter while in operation	7 (2.3)	3 (1.5)	4 (3.8)
Body part	3 (1.0)	3 (1.5)	0 (0.0)
Clothing	4 (1.3)	0 (0.0)	4 (3.8)
Collision with fixed object (includes parked motor vehicles)	5 (1.6)	5 (2.5)	0 (0.0)
Collision with cyclist, other scooter user, or pedestrian	5 (1.6)	3 (1.5)	2 (1.9)
Collision with a moving vehicle	4 (1.3)	2 (1.0)	2 (1.9)
Body part caught while folding/opening scooter	3 (1.0)	1 (0.5)	2 (1.9)
Malfunction of scooter	3 (1.0)	3 (1.5)	0 (0.0)
Other/unknown circumstances	3 (1.0)	2 (1.0)	1 (1.0)
Total	305 (100.0)	201 (100.0)	104 (100.0)

*Each patient was assigned to a single category and percentages were based on the 305 persons injured. Category assignment was based on the level of detail available in the description of the injury.

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DIRECT CAUSE OF THE INJURY (MECHANISM FACTOR)*

DIRECT CAUSE OF INJURY	# (%) OF CASES	# (%) OF MALE CASES	# (%) OF FEMALE CASES
Surface	241 (79.0)	154 (76.6)	87 (83.7)
Concrete/other man-made	169	100	69
Ground/other natural	21	14	7
Gutter/curb	7	6	1
Small rocks/stones/gravel	4	3	1
Ditches/ruts/holes	2	2	0
Ice/snow/frost	1	1	0
Sticks/branches, not attached	1	1	0
Unknown natural surface	36	27	9
The scooter	34 (11.2)	27 (13.4)	7 (6.7)
A person	12 (3.9)	9 (4.5)	3 (2.9)
Fixed upright object	5 (1.6)	3 (1.5)	2 (1.9)
Parked motor vehicle	2	2	0
Wall	2	0	2
Traffic control device	1	1	0
Moving vehicle	2 (0.7)	1 (0.5)	1 (1.0)
A bicycle	1 (03)	1 (0.5)	0 (0.0)
Fixed low object	1 (0.3)	1 (0.5)	0 (0.0)
Deck/Porch	1	1	0
Other factor	7 (2.3)	3 (1.5)	4 (3.8)
Unknown factor	2 (0.7)	2 (1.0)	0 (0.0)
Total	305 (100.0)	201 (100.0)	104 (100.0)

* Up to two mechanisms can be entered per record; only the first mechanism contributing to injury is included in the table.

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BODY PART & NATURE OF INJURIES*

BODY REGION Nature of injury	# (%) OF CASES	% CHIRPP**
Upper extremities Fracture    forearm    wrist/hand    upper arm Bruise / Abrasion Sprain / Strain Other Injury	156 (51.1) 92 (30.2) 47 33 12 29 (9.5) 20 (6.6) 15 (4.9)	33.9
Lower extremities Bruise / Abrasion Fracture    lower leg    foot/ankle Sprain/Strain Cut / Laceration Other Injury	74 (24.3) 21 (6.9) 19 (6.2) 10 9 13 (4.3) 10 (3.3) 11 (3.6)	21.7
Head, Face, and Neck Cut/Laceration Minor Head Injury Dental Injury Bruise / Abrasion Fracture    facial    skull Other Injury	61 (20.0) 24 (7.9) 13 (4.3) 8 (2.6) 6 (2.0) 5 (1.6) 4 1 5 (1.6)	32.4
Trunk (including Spine) Bruise/Abrasion Other Injury	8 (2.6) 6 (2.0) 2 (0.7)	6.3
Multiple Injuries to Multiple Body Parts	1 (0.3)	0.2
No Injuries Detected	2 (0.7)	0.7
Unknown	3 (1.0)	0.8
Total	305 (100.0)	96.0 †

* Up to three injuries and body parts can be entered per record; only the first most severe injury is included in the table.

** Percentage of records in the entire CHIRPP database for the given body region.

† Does not add to 100% as systemic injuries are not included

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SAFETY DEVICES USED

The status of helmet use was known in 156 cases (51.1%). Of these, 113 cases (72.4%) reported that a helmet was not used.

NUMBER OF INJURIES

# OF INJURIES SUSTAINED	% OF CASES	% OF CASES CHIRPP*
No injury	0.7	2.1
1 injury	86.9	88.9
2 injuries	9.2	7.3
3 or more injuries	2.3	1.7
Unknown	1.0	0.0
Total	100.0	100.0

* Percentage of records in the entire CHIRPP database with the given number of injuries.

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TREATMENT PROVIDED IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

TREATMENT	# (%) OF CASES	% CHIRPP*
Left without being seen	3 (1.0)	0.9
Advice only	50 (16.4)	18.8
Treated, follow-up if necessary	89 (29.2)	38.6
Treated, medical follow-up required	144 (47.2)	33.7
Short stay, observation in emergency	5 (1.6)	1.5
Admitted to hospital	14 (4.6)	6.4
Total	305 (100.0)	100.0

* Percentage of records in the entire CHIRPP database for the given treatment provided.

SUGGESTED REFERENCE AND REPORTING INFORMATION

This report and data from it may be copied and circulated freely provided that the source is acknowledged. The following citation is recommended:

Injury Section (Health Canada) analyses of data from the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP). Injuries Associated with Unpowered Scooters, CHIRPP database as of May 2001, All ages, June 2001 (305 records).

If data from this report are included in any other document or publication, it should be noted, where appropriate, that the information comes from 15 hospitals (10 pediatric and 5 general) across Canada.

For additional information on the CHIRPP program, please contact the Injury Section, Centre for Healthy Human Development by phone at (613) 941-9918, by FAX at (613) 941-9927 or visit our website at <www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/injury-bles/index-eng.php>.